Soul world.
In front of the stone stele inscribed with the Soul Gate spell, Enzo stood motionless, observed by onlookers who couldn't resist commenting.
"Another fool."
"Hah, these newcomers always think they're special, believing they can perceive the soul world and understand the profound content on the Soul Gate stele."
"How long do you think he'll last before giving up?"
"Speaking of your boring speculations, I'm more curious about one thing: does anyone know where the Crimson Star Tribe is? Their paper and glass are simply exquisite."
"..."
The crowd discussed various topics.
All of them held the belief that Enzo would soon give up.
The fact seemed to be as they expected.
Enzo didn't last long before withdrawing his gaze and walking towards an empty space.
"See, I told you he wouldn't make it."
Someone shouted loudly.
These people enjoyed disparaging others in this manner.
But right now, Enzo was consumed with urgency and paid them no heed.
To the shock of everyone present, a swirling vortex of colors appeared before Enzo, and without hesitation, he stepped through, sensing a familiar aura beyond the vortex.
"This... he..."
"Someone has actually comprehended the Soul Gate!"
"Wait, we seem to have overlooked something: that person barely looked at the stele, only enough to glance over its contents!"
Hiss!
The faces of everyone turned pale.
Earlier, Goring, who claimed to be an intelligence-traveling merchant, turned even paler, quickly faded, and vanished, clearly in a rush to leave the soul world.
Many others followed suit.
The long-lost tranquility of the soul world was shattered in this manner.
On the other side.
Enzo, having crossed through the soul passage, saw Freya. Freya was equally surprised."Enzo, what are you doing here?" she asked.
Enzo asked directly, "Freya, have you encountered any difficulties?"
Freya shook her head. "No."
At that moment, Fraspens's voice came in, "You must be Enzo?"
Enzo looked at Fraspens, who explained, "I am Fraspens, former priest of the Golden Lion Tribe."
Enzo pressed again, "So, what exactly happened?"
Freya still hesitated to disclose everything.
However, Enzo's gaze was deep and penetrating, seeming to delve into her consciousness, making it difficult for her to speak falsehoods. Finally, Freya had no choice but to truthfully recount their current predicament.
After saying her piece, she added, "Enzo, I don't want you to come to my rescue. This is an internal matter of the Golden Lion Tribe, and I will handle it myself."
Enzo, feeling urgent, asked, "How will you handle it?"
Freya found herself unable to refute him, yet her pride surfaced again as she turned towards Enzo, saying, "Enzo, you are just a priest of a small tribe. What right do you have to meddle in my affairs?"
Fraspens chuckled nearby and remarked, "It seems like you two have a good relationship. Unfortunately, that won't bring any help. So young man, go back. Your current strength is indeed inadequate to intervene. Of course, I can assure you that Freya will be fine."
Enzo ignored Fraspens and simply gazed at Freya.
Freya felt some regret for her earlier attitude, but at this moment, she wasn't willing to back down in front of Enzo. Instead, she said, "Enzo, would you walk with me?"
Enzo sighed and replied, "Sure."
The two walked through the desolate ruins until several scattered boulders blocked their path. Freya glanced up at Enzo and, in a low voice, said, "I'm sorry, Enzo."
Then, she smiled again.
"I'm glad I met you. Without you, I might have become completely cold-hearted. But now there are things I have to do."
Enzo asked, "So, I can't help?"
Freya shook her head.
She embraced Enzo's neck and lightly kissed him. It was a sensation different from mere physical contact, a blending of souls and spirits, truly exquisite.
After the gentle kiss, Freya's form dissipated.
Her consciousness departed from the soul space.
However, Enzo did not feel sadness or anger because of this. Instead, a smile appeared on his face as he muttered to himself, "Freya, it seems you've forgotten our first meeting in the soul world."
Back then, they were enemies.
Enzo's strength was incomparably weak, and to survive, he had attracted an Energy-devouring Worm and left a mark within Freya's body.
But now, Enzo's strength far surpassed his former self.
Yet, similarly, this time he had still left a mark of life within Freya.
...
The Crimson Star Tribe, the second-floor bamboo tower, and Enzo slowly opened his eyes.
He leaped out the window, spreading his black wings like a hawk, swiftly soaring through the night sky.
In that moment, Enzo's speed reached its peak.
The raging wind whispered in his ears as the life marker from a distant place guided him.
"Freya, I'm coming!" Enzo shouted in his heart.
Meanwhile.
In the underground prison of the Golden Lion Tribe.
Freya and Fraspens regained consciousness in their bodies. Freya seemed relatively unharmed but mentally fatigued, while Fraspens appeared to be in distress, convulsing uncontrollably.
Freya couldn't see what was happening.
But she could hear Fraspens' agonized cries, intermittent due to his extreme weakness.
Despite this, Fraspens persisted.
With his last ounce of strength, he said, "Freya, there's only one last resort now. I know you dislike being a tribe priest and staying with the Golden Lion Tribe. But I can't let the tribe be destroyed."
"This time, I'm asking for your help."
"I will lift the power seal on the prison and enhance your strength to help you escape. But I hope that once you leave and grow strong enough, you'll return to the Golden Lion Tribe and kill Chloe, the traitor!"
Freya was puzzled and asked, "Fraspens, what are you planning to do?"
Fraspens let out a bitter laugh and said, "Do you know why Chloe hasn't killed me yet? Because he wants my priest inheritance power!"
"And my priest inheritance power comes from the previous priest."
"It's an incredibly unimaginable ability, among many priest inheritance powers, it's extremely powerful. Because its name is the Power of Inheritance!"
"The Power of Inheritance can continue to pass down."
"And in the process of inheritance, it can also absorb other powers. The more it inherits, the stronger the next person who inherits the Power of Inheritance becomes. This is the fundamental reason why the Golden Lion Tribe has remained strong."
"Now, this Power of Inheritance belongs to you!"
Fraspens roared.
A tremendous force erupted from him, a complex blend of energies as if many people's strengths converged into one.
At that moment, this power burst forth.
A massive roar shook the entire prison, shattering the thick stone walls. Feeling her strength restored, Freya immediately broke through the ceiling above her head and freed Fraspens from the adjacent cell.
However, Freya stood frozen in place.
Outside the prison, all was calm except for Chloe standing there, as if waiting for a long time.
Chloe glanced at Freya, then at Fraspens, a joyful smile spreading across his face."Fraspenspriest, you fell for it," Chloe said.
At this moment, Fraspens looked utterly miserable.
His body was visibly sunken, one arm clearly broken, and his legs contorted, evidently tortured into disability.
Fraspens seemed to realize a possibility.
However, he refused to admit it, forcibly suppressing his inner panic as he asked, "Chloe, what do you mean?"
Chloe laughed loudly and said, "Fraspens, I know you look down on me, believe I'm unfit to be a priest, and don't want to hand over the Power of Inheritance to me! So, I had no choice but to imprison you. I also knew you've been pretending, pretending you didn't have the power to escape the prison."
"So, I cooperated."
"I sent Freya in. I knew you would sense the talent in Freya. And upon learning of Freya's ordeal, you would surely choose to pass on the Power of Inheritance to her."
"It seems my guess was right."
"Now that the Power of Inheritance has been stripped from you, shouldn't you return it to me?"
Chloe laughed maniacally.
His mental strength overflowed, constructing a psychic domain around them. Freya and Fraspens' consciousnesses felt sluggish, as if stuck in a swamp.
"Fraspens, give me the Power of Inheritance!" Chloe commanded.
Fraspens' eyes were clouded, puppet-like, as he took out a ball of light from his chest and handed it to Chloe.
Chloe eagerly took it.
However, his face instantly turned ashen.
The ball of light resisted him, preventing him from absorbing it.
"What is this?" Chloe exclaimed angrily.
As the psychic domain dissolved, Fraspens regained his clarity. Seeing the Power of Inheritance in Chloe's hands, he was filled with rage but remembered his earlier realization. He instantly understood why Chloe was furious.
Mockingly, Fraspens said, "Chloe, because you are a traitor! The Power of Inheritance of the Golden Lion Tribe only recognizes a true priest, and you are not one!"
This statement infuriated Chloe.
But in the next moment, a smile appeared on his face as he said, "Well then, I'll have to proceed with my follow-up plan. In the upcoming Ritual of the Barren Mountain, during the Ritual of Inheritance, there's a ritual that allows souls to exchange places."
"My current body is already decaying."
Chloe sighed, looking at Freya as if appraising a beautiful piece of art.